U.S. patent application number 10/748578 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-04 for establishing a broadband connection that saves resources and satisfies billing conditions.
Invention is credited to Benini, Giovanni, Herzinger, Jeanette, Kalkbrenner, Andreas, Stademann, Rainer, Stelzl, Rudolf, Zeiner, Johann.
Application Number | 20040218740 10/748578 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7690291 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040218740 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Benini, Giovanni ; et
al. |
November 4, 2004 |
Establishing a broadband connection that saves resources and
satisfies billing conditions
Abstract
The invention relates to a communications system and a method
for establishing a broadband connection, for example a multi-media
connection between two or more users, by means of exchanges in a
communications network, for example an ATM network. According to
the invention, when the exchanges receive a request from a calling
user to establish a broadband connection, said exchanges first
establish a minimal connection between the users and once the
minimal connection is in operation between the users, the requested
broadband connection is established. The users of broadband network
capacities, which have been reserved by the network at the request
of the user, are billed during the call phase. Broadband
connections of this type can receive a higher priority than the
upgrade of minimal connections to complete connections. A voice
connection comprising audio data constitutes for example a minimal
connection. The broadband connection takes place for example
between video telephones.
Inventors: |
Benini, Giovanni;
(Watertown, MA) ; Herzinger, Jeanette; (Munchen,
DE) ; Kalkbrenner, Andreas; (Munchen, DE) ;
Stademann, Rainer; (Berg, DE) ; Stelzl, Rudolf;
(Dachau, DE) ; Zeiner, Johann; (Dachau,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SIEMENS CORPORATION
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPT.
170 WOOD AVENUE SOUTH
ISELIN
NJ
08830
US
|
Family ID: |
7690291 |
Appl. No.: |
10/748578 |
Filed: |
December 30, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10748578 |
Dec 30, 2003 |
|
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PCT/DE02/01923 |
May 24, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/114.1 ;
348/14.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 12/5602
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/114.1 ;
348/014.1 |
International
Class: |
H04N 007/14; H04M
015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 2, 2001 |
DE |
10131959.2 |
Claims
1. A Communication system for establishing a broadband connection
between two or more subscribers by switches in a communication
network, wherein, on receiving a request from a calling subscriber
to establish a broadband connection, the switches set up a minimum
connection between said subscribers and, once the minimum
connection has been put into operation by the subscribers,
establish the required broadband connection.
2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein a data
stream determined by the calling subscriber is transmitted via the
minimum connection.
3. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein one of the
subscribers first initiates the establishment of a minimum
connection and thereafter the establishment of the broadband
connection.
4. A communication system according to one of claims 1, wherein
subscribers are charged as early as the broadband connection setup
phase.
5. A communication system according to claim 4, wherein the
establishment of the broadband connection has a higher priority in
the communication network than the establishment of broadband
connections which are not charged for during the broadband
connection setup phase.
6. A method for establishing a broadband connection between two or
more subscribers in a communication network, comprising:
establishing a minimum connection between the subscribers by a
plurality of switches involved at the request of a subscriber to
establish a broadband connection; and establishing a broadband
connection between the subscribers by the switches involved after
the minimum connection has been put into operation by the
subscribers.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein a data stream determined
by the calling subscriber is transmitted via the minimum
connection.
8. A method according to claim 6, wherein a calling subscriber
first initiates the establishment of a minimum connection and
thereafter the establishment of the broadband connection.
9. A method for charging for a broadband connection between two or
more subscribers in a communication network, wherein subscribers
are charged even during the broadband connection setup phase.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the establishment of the
broadband connection has a higher priority in the communication
network than the establishment of broadband connections which are
not charged for during the broadband connection setup phase.
11. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein one of the
subscribers first initiates the establishment of a minimum
connection and thereafter the establishment of a broadband
connection.
12. A communication system according to claim 2, wherein
subscribers are charged as early as the broadband connection setup
phase.
13. A communication system according to claim 3, wherein
subscribers are charged as early as the broadband connection setup
phase.
14. A method according to claim 7, wherein a calling subscriber
first initiates the establishment of a minimum connection and
thereafter the establishment of the broadband connection.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a communication system and
a method for establishing a multimedia connection between two or
more subscribers by means of switches in a communication network
and a method for charging for a broadband connection.
[0002] Unlike private networks such as PBXs, public telephone
networks operate on a connection-oriented basis. Before the actual
data exchange between the subscribers, connection setup takes place
in which the path through the network is specified and the required
resources such as circuits, channels and bandwidths for these
connections are reserved. The path through a communication network
is specified within the switching system on the basis of the
address supplied at connection setup and stored traffic routing
data. At connection setup, the most favorable path for the
connection through the network from the A-subscriber to the
B-subscriber is determined according to pre-defined algorithms.
After connection setup, the B-subscriber is called. The required or
agreed bandwidth is possibly monitored during the connection to
prevent overloads in the switches involved and in order not to
appreciably limit the quality of the other connections.
[0003] Analogously to the reserving of channels and circuits in
connection-oriented communication networks such as ATM networks
(Asynchronous Transfer Mode), in connectionless networks such as IP
networks (Internet Protocol) transmission and routing capacity is
reserved for the required connection. This is necessary in such
networks in order to be able to guarantee a specified QoS (Quality
of Service) for the communication.
[0004] Multimedia services such as videophone and videoconference
require broadband connections with bit rates of 1.5 Mbit/s to 100
Mbit/s or more. Connections of this kind generally contain a
plurality of user data streams. Thus an audio and a video data
stream are generally required for videotelephony, as the audio and
video data are compressed using different compression methods with
different compression rates, the video data stream requiring a
higher bandwidth than the audio data stream despite
compression.
[0005] If multimedia connections of this kind are established
according to the procedure outlined above, which is described in
Kalmanek, C. R.; DOSA: An Architecture for Providing a Robust IP
Telephony Service, AT&T Labs, New Jersey, for Internet
telephony, network resources are wasted, as the full bandwidth is
reserved in the network or the broadband connection is already in
place during calling of the B-subscriber (ringing of the videophone
at the receive end). The network operator receives no revenue for
this service, as charges are not payable until the B-subscriber
accepts the call and the connection is put into operation. Likewise
the case may arise that resources requested by the A-subscriber for
setting up the broadband connection are not available to the
network, the connection is not therefore established and the
B-subscriber is not even called in the first place. This means lost
revenue for the network operator and increasing customer
dissatisfaction.
[0006] One approach for solving the problem is known from
Sinnreich, H.; Interdomain IP Communications with QoS,
Authorization and Usage Reporting, Internet Draft,
Draft-sinnreich-interdomain-sip-qos-01.txt, 2000, in which the
B-subscriber is called even though the connection is not yet stable
in the network or the resources requested by the A-subscriber are
not yet available.
[0007] However, it may happen that, when the B-subscriber goes
off-hook, the connection is set up with a delay, with poor or not
the desired quality, or not at all. In addition, ITU-T
Recommendation Q.2962 of the International Telecommunication
Union--Telecommunication Standardization Sector describes broadband
ISDN signaling protocols that allow an A-subscriber to initiate the
conversion of a minimum connection to a broader-band connection.
According to this approach, the A-subscriber already possesses a
minimum connection when he initiates the conversion. However, the
A-subscriber cannot be prevented from requesting a broadband
connection from the very outset, which means that the original
situation with the associated problems described above can
therefore arise. According to ITU-T Recommendation Q.2962, the
A-subscriber can specify, to the network or his switch, one or more
alternatives for establishing the connection. Thus, if the
resources are available, a broadband connection is established.
However, if network resources are again reserved during calling of
the B-subscriber, and if no resources are available for a broadband
connection, only a minimum connection is established which is not
subsequently converted to a broadband connection.
[0008] The object of the invention is to create a communication
system or a method for establishing a multimedia/broadband
connection between subscribers in a communication network as well
as a method for charging for a broadband connection which will
enable a multimedia/broadband connection to be established in a
resource-saving manner with appropriate call charging.
[0009] This object is achieved by the features of the independent
claims. A broadband connection between subscribers is therefore
only established by the network after a minimum connection has been
set up between the subscribers and said minimum connection has been
put into operation by said subscribers. As a minimum connection is
first set up and reserved, this ensures that if, for example, the
called party is absent during the calling phase (ringing of the
videophone at the receive end), no network resources for reserving
a broadband connection are wasted. Nevertheless, a reliable,
quickly established and fully adequate connection, the minimum
connection, is available to the subscribers. This prevents the
situation arising that no connection exists when the B-subscriber
goes off-hook or the established connection is of poor quality. The
subscribers can determine, via the minimum connection, what data is
to be transmitted. This can include, for example, audio data for a
voice connection or initialization data to receive-end playback or
recording equipment whose data is then transmitted via the
broadband connection. The minimum connection can be automatically
converted to a broadband connection or an additional broadband
connection can be automatically set up by the network or even
initiated by the subscribers themselves. However, as the
communication network or the switches control the multi-stage
connection setup, establishment of a broadband connection without
the prior setup and putting into operation of a minimum connection
is prevented.
[0010] If an A-subscriber wishes to establish a broadband
connection to a B-subscriber, e.g. without first establishing a
minimum connection, the A-subscriber will be charged for broadband
network capacities, which are reserved in the network at his
request, as early as the calling phase (ringing of the receive-end
videophone). The establishment of such connections can be granted a
higher priority in the network than the establishment of broadband
connections which are not charged for during broadband connection
setup. Broadband resources that are reserved in the network on
request will be paid for by the subscribers and used directly.
[0011] The invention will be further developed by the features of
the dependent claims.
[0012] The present invention will now be explained using examples
with reference to the accompanying drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a flowchart for the setup of a broadband
connection according to the invention based on the example of
videotelephony and FIG. 2 shows a flowchart for the setup and
charging of a broadband connection according to the invention.
[0014] In ATM networks, for example, network resources such as
transmission capacity on the physical circuits and ATM cell memory
in the network nodes are distributed over virtual connections. The
resulting flexible and efficient use of network resources is
subject to the mutual interference between connections,
particularly if the permissible network load is exceeded. Traffic
control is based on a Traffic Contract concluded between a
subscriber and the network, in which the subscriber, at connection
setup, notifies the network of traffic parameters characterizing
the required connection and undertakes to adhere to the agreements.
In addition to the traffic parameters, the subscriber agrees QoS
(Quality of Service) requirements with the network. The network
decides whether the connection required by the subscriber can be
accepted without impairment to the QoS of existing connections or
new connections to be established.
[0015] In FIG. 1 shows the setup according to the invention of a
multimedia connection from an A-subscriber to a B-subscriber based
on a videotelephony example. With the "Setup" message, the
A-subscriber A-Tln informs his switch A-Vst that he wants to set up
a connection with the B-subscriber B-Tln. The "Setup" message
contains the request for a multimedia connection with a 64 kbit
data stream for the transmission of audio data and a 2 Mbit data
stream for the transmission of video data. The switch A-Vst,
however, only transmits a "Setup" message for the establishment of
a minimum connection for the 64 kbit audio data stream to the
B-subscriber's switch B-Vst. The B-subscriber's switch B-Vst sends
the B-subscriber B-Tln a "Setup" message for a 64 kbit audio
connection, whereupon the B-subscriber's terminal is busied. If
resources are available for the 64 kbit audio connection, in the
next step the 64 kbit audio connection is set up and reserved. The
B-subscriber B-Tln is called (ringing of the receive-end
videophone). If the B-subscriber B-Tln goes off-hook, an "Answer"
message is sent from him to the A-subscriber A-Tln via the switches
A-Vst and B-Vst. The 64 kbit audio connection between the
A-subscriber A-Tln and the B-subscriber is put into operation and
charged for. Thereafter the switch A-Vst initiates setup of the 2
Mbit video connection and sends a "Setup" message for the
establishment of the 2 Mbit video connection to the B-subscriber's
switch B-Vst, whereupon the latter sends the B-subscriber a "Setup"
message for the establishment of the 2 Mbit video connection. As
soon as the necessary resources for the 2 Mbit video connection
have been granted by the network, the connection is put into
operation and charging is adapted accordingly. Several attempts may
be necessary or permissible depending on circumstances. This allows
greater capacity utilization of the network or means that the
network requires little or no overdimensioning. A time delay in
providing the video connection is acceptable, as communication
between the subscribers A-Tln, B-Tln is already possible via the
audio connection.
[0016] According to the invention, the data to be transmitted even
via the minimum connection can be specified in the "Setup" message
from the A-subscriber A-Tln to his switch A-Vst. This is
advantageous if, prior to transmission of broadband information,
initialization data has to be transmitted between the subscribers
A-Tln, B-Tln and said information can be transmitted even via the
minimum connection.
[0017] It is additionally possible for the A-subscriber A-Tln to
himself initiate setup of the broadband connection when required,
instead of the switch A-Vst of the A-subscriber A-Tln setting it up
automatically when the minimum connection is put into
operation.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows an example of the setup and charging of a
multimedia/broadband connection according to the invention. In this
example a broadband connection is established from the A-subscriber
A-Tln to the B-subscriber B-Tln, without a pre-existing minimum
connection. The A-subscriber A-Tln can communicate this requirement
to his switch A-Vst in the "Setup" message. The switch A-Vst
receives from the A-subscriber in the "Setup" message the request
to establish a 2 Mbit multimedia connection and forwards said
request in a similar manner to the example shown in FIG. 1. If the
resources for setting up the 2 Mbit multimedia connection are
available to the network, the 2 Mbit multimedia connection is
reserved and charged for. The B-subscriber B-Tln is called. If the
B-subscriber B-Tln goes off-hook, an "Answer" message is sent by
him to the A-subscriber A-Tln via the switches A-Vst and B-Vst. The
2 Mbit multimedia connection between the A-subscriber A-Tln and the
B-subscriber is put into operation. The setup of such connections
can be granted a higher priority in the network than the cleardown
of minimum connections in favor of full connections or the
establishment of broadband connections which are not charged for
during the broadband connection setup phase.
* * * * *